Phenols in Softwood shavings

[Maz]

Most of us are already aware of the health risks for hamsters with Pine, Cedar and softwood shavings generally (other than Spruce). But I've finally found the research article mentioned on here recently, and linked it in the resources section above.

Phenols in Pine and Cedar shavings

Attached is an article, with various citations to research, which clearly shows the dangers of Phenols in Pine and Cedar wood shavings. Phenols are highly toxic to hamsters, as well as mice and rats. Not only causing respiratory disorders, but...

www.thehamsterforum.com

 

[dwarfhamstermom]

Hey! What do you think about Chipsi Classic? I read its made out pine and spruce but there's more spruce shavings than pine one and the pine % is safe because it doesn't have as much as phenol as other beddings.

 

[Maz]

There are varying views on it. It is pine and spruce. Spruce is equivalent to hardwood in terms of not really having phenols. Pine does have phenols even if kiln dried, which reduces the phenols, I contacted Chipsi to ask what the proportion of Spruce is because there is info on the internet which can be misleading. They wouldn't commit to a percentage and just said - it varies.

So - There is some spruce in it so it will have less phenols than an all pine bedding. German kiln drying is supposed to be to a high standard. But it won't be free of phenols. Personally I prefer not to use it but a lot of people do.

 

[dwarfhamstermom]

It's the only "good" bedding I could find in shops here so I thought it was safe and I could save the shipping tax, anyways I know changing the whole cage bedding is stressful for them

 

[Maz]

What bedding do you have at the moment? Plenty of people use the Chipsi.

 

[dwarfhamstermom]

Chipsi Classic! thats why I asked

 

[Maz]

Oh sorry It's certainly one of the better softwood beddings.

 

[swampystorm]

I use megazorb. It’s £11.50 for 15kg from my local horse supplies shop. It’s so much cheaper than things marketed for hamster bedding and compacts nicely to create burrows. Horse shops also do big bags of paper and cardboard bedding, all are advertised as dust extracted, but so much cheaper than shopping in a small animal pet store.

 

[Bepis]

This study shows the main volatile compounds of each type of wood so it might be useful.